Forty-One Members and Associates of "Trinitarios" Criminal Organization Indicted for Drug Trafficking in Washington Heights

MAR 11 -- JOHN P. GILBRIDE, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Field Division (“DEA”), LEV L. DASSIN, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, RONALD B. TURK, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF") and, RAYMOND W. KELLY, the Police Commissioner of the City of New York announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging forty-one members or associates of the “Trinitarios” criminal organization with drug trafficking.

The Indictment stems from a two-year investigation by the NYPD, ATF and DEA into the Trinitarios. Beginning last night and continuing through this morning, approximately two hundred law enforcement officers, including members of the NYPD, ATF, and DEA, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) and the United States Marshals Service for the Southern District of New York (“USMS”), have been making arrests and conducting searches in connection with the Indictment and investigation, primarily in Washington Heights and the Bronx.

As alleged in the Indictment: The Trinitarios is a criminal organization consisting primarily of individuals of Dominican descent, and their associates that operates in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York, New York, and elsewhere. The Trinitarios organization operated and controlled drug trafficking on at least four city blocks in the area of West 171 Street through West 174 Streets in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York, New York. Various defendants face charges relating to the sale of marijuana, MDA, cocaine and crack cocaine.

Members of the Trinitarios also committed acts of violence to protect and expand their drug-trafficking operation, and to protect fellow members of the organization. For example, on January 19, 2009, JONATHAN FELIZ, a/k/a “Sweet Pea,” a/k/a “Snoop,” allegedly ordered other members of the Trinitarios organization, including RUDY SANTANA a/k/a “Gordo,” to kill a rival drug dealer who had encroached on territory controlled by the Trinitarios organization. That day, SANTANA and others attempted to fulfill FELIZ’s order by firing several shots at the rival drug dealer in the vicinity of 174 Street and Audubon Avenue, New York, New York.

In total, thirty-eight defendants were charged with a marijuana-distribution conspiracy; eight defendants were charged with an MDA-distribution conspiracy; six defendants were charged with cocaine distribution, two defendants were charged with crack cocaine distribution or conspiracy, and three defendants were charged with possessing, carrying, and using firearms in furtherance of the marijuana- and MDA-distribution conspiracies, including during the shooting in the vicinity of 174 street and Audobon Avenue. A chart outlining the charges and potential penalties is attached.

Mr. DASSIN thanked the DEA, ATF and NYPD for their tireless work in this investigation, and thanked ICE and the USMS for their assistance with the case. He added that the investigation is continuing. Updated information on today’s arrests will be released later today; the arrested defendants are expected to be arraigned this afternoon in Manhattan federal court before a Magistrate Judge. Assistant United States Attorneys NOLA B. HELLER, MICHAEL D. MAIMIN, and JENNIFER E. BURNS are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.